Album Details
Artist
Release Date
Label
Geffen Records
Liquid Swords is the second solo studio album by Wu-Tang Clan member GZA. Recording sessions for the album began midway through 1995 at producer RZA’s basement studio in the New York City borough of Staten Island. The album heavily samples dialogue from the martial arts film Shogun Assassin and maintains a dark atmosphere throughout, incorporating lyrical references to chess, crime and philosophy.
Liquid Swords features numerous guest appearances from the entire nine piece Wu-Tang Clan, and also Wu-Tang affiliate Killah Priest.
Upon its release, Liquid Swords peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 chart, and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album platinum in sales nearly 20 years after its release. Upon its initial release, Liquid Swords received critical acclaim for its complex lyricism and hypnotic musical style. Over the years, its recognition has grown, with a number of famous publishers proclaiming it to be one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.
Track Listing
Original Release
- Liquid Swords
- Duel of the Iron Mic (featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Masta Killa & Inspectah Deck)
- Living in the World Today
- Gold
- Cold World (featuring Inspectah Deck & Life)
- Labels
- 4th Chamber (featuring Ghostface Killah, Killah Priest & RZA)
- Shadowboxin’ (featuring Method Man)
- Hell’s Wind Staff / Killah Hills 10304
- Investigative Reports (featuring U-God, Raekwon & Ghostface Killah)
- Swordsman
- I Gotcha Back
- B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) (performed by Killah Priest)
Total length: 55:14
Bonus Disc | The Full-Length Instrumentals
- Liquid Swords
- Duel of the Iron Mic
- Living in the World Today
- Gold
- Cold World
- Labels
- 4th Chamber
- Shadowboxin’
- Killah Hills 10304
- Investigative Reports
- I Gotcha Back
Total length: 44:48
Certifications
Certified Platinum (RIAA)
Certified Gold (RIAA)
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